Triple acting pump



May 26, 1942.

w. H. zEHNER TRIPLE ACTING PUMP Filed Aug. 11. 1939 Fly. a.

/NVENTOR WILL/AM H. ZEHNER BY Sm fhn/gw ATTORNEY Patented May 26, 1942TRIPLE ACTING PUMP William H. Zehner, Ashland, Ohio, assigner to The F.E. Myers d; Bro. Co., Ashland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application August 11, 1939, Serial No. 289,650

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a triple acting pump which is adapted todeliver considerably more liquid per stroke than what is commonly knownas a double acting pump of the same size.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a triple acting pumphaving two plungers. each of which is operative to deliver liquid intothe delivery chamber, both in the upstroke and the down stroke, wherebythe assembly is enabled to deliver more liquid per stroke than a doubleacting pump of the same size.

Another object is to provide a triple acting pump of the foregoing typewhich comprises an upper plunger and a lower plunger, each operating inco-axial cylinders, between which is disposed means for admitting liquidto the space above the lower plunger on its down stroke and means foradmitting liquid to the space below the upper plunger on its upstroke.Means is also provided for admitting liquid below the lower plunger onits upstroke. Means is also provided for delivering the liquid thusadmitted to these three spaces into the delivery chamber on the strokeopposite to that which filled each of the three spaces.

Consequently on the down-stroke of the upper and lower plunger unit,liquid is forced into the delivery chamber from the spaces directlybelow the upper and lower plungers, while on the upstroke the liquid isdelivered from the space directly above the lower plunger. Apparatus ofthis character is therefore properly designated a "triple-acting" pump,which is clearly distinguishable from the so-called double-acting" pumpin which the iluid is delivered to the delivery chamber from only two ofthese three spaces during a complete recprocation of the plunger unit.

It is a further object to provide a pump of the foregoing type whereinthe Working assembly is adapted to be pulled upwardly as a unit forinspection or repair by merely pulling upwardly on the pump rod andwithout pulling the well pipe.

Still another object is to provide an assembly of the type justdescribed wherein the working unit is supported by an inwardly taperedcasting disposed at the lowermost portion of the outer casing.

Still another object is to provide an assembly of the type Justdescribed wherein the supporting casting is at the foot of the workingunit.

Another object is to provide a removable assembly wherein the supportingcasting is located intermediate of the working unit.

Yet another object is to provide a modiiied form of triple acting pumpin which the working unit cannot be removed to the surface by pulling onthe pump rod but with which it is necessary to pull the well pipe inorder to remove the working unit for repairs or 'the like; thismodification provides a more economical construction than that of theremovable types and one which gives proportionately a greater capacityper unit of over-all diameter.

Still other objects will more fully hereinafter appear.

Reference is made to my co-pending appli cations Serial Nos. 289,647,289,648 and 289,649, filed of even date herewith, which have resulted,respectively, in Patents 2,262,128 of November 1l, 1941, 2,255,305 ofSeptember 9, 1941, and 2,255,306 of September 9, 1941.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the preferred form of pumpassembly in operating position with the plungers and valves at rest.

Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified form of pump.

Figure 3 is a similar view of still another modication in which it isnecessary to pull the drop pipe connected to the top of the workingcylinder in order to withdraw the cylinder from the well.

Referring to the drawing in detail and, first, to the preferred form ofthe invention shown in Figure l, reference numeral l designates an outercasing which extends throughout the length of the working cylinder andwhich is threaded at its top to a coupling 4 which receives the wellpipe I0. Outer casing I is provided at its lower end with a supportingcoupling 5, into which is threaded a pipe Il which extends downwardlyinto the well. Disposed within casing l is'an upper inner cylinder 2 anda lower inner cylinder 3. At the Vupper end of inner cylinder 2 there ismounted, between couplings I3 and Il, a sealing leather I2 whichslidably seals the space between the top of inner cylinder 2 andcoupling I.

Supporting coupling 5 is tapered internally inwardly and downwardly andslidably receives an outwardly tapered check valve casting 6 which isthreadably attached at the extreme lower end of lower cylinder 3.Mounted upon casting 6 is a check valve 1 which opens upwardly allowingliquid to pass upwardly into space C thereabove, but preventingliquidfrom returning downwardly from space C by reason of spring B whichnormally urges valve l into the closed position.

Disposed at the upper end of lower cylinder 3 and threadably engagedtherewith is a lower inan upper inlet casting I which isA threadablyengaged on its exterior face with the extreme lower portion of uppercylinder 2.

Mounted within upper cylinder 2 is thereciprocating upper plungerdesignated generally as I6 which is provided with sealing leathers I1slidably #engaging the interior of cylinder 2. Upper plunger |6 isfurther provided with a cylindrical internal passageway designatedgenerally as I8 which is in communication with delivery space D by meansof ports |9 formed in the uppermost portion of upper plunger I6.Threadably engaged with upper plunger I6 is pump rod 20, through whichreciprocating motion is applied to the plungers. Upper plunger I6 isprovided with upwardly opening valve 2| which is normally held closed byspring 22 and which allows liquid to pass upwardly from space A intospace I8 and thence into space D.

Upper inlet casting I5 is provided with outwardly opening ports 23 whichare in communication with annular chamber 24 formed between outercasting I and the working cylinder. An upwardly opening valve 25 isprovided at the upper end of these ports 23 and is adapted to allowliquid to pass upwardly from ports 23 into space A but to prevent itsreturn by reason of spring 26 which normally urges valve 25 into theclosed position.

Disposed within lower cylinder 3 is a lower plunger designated generallyas 21 which is provided on its exterior face with sealing leathers 28which slidably seal it with respect to cylinder 3. Plunger 21 isconnected to plunger I6 by hollow tube 29, which causes plunger 21 to bereciprocated simultaneously with plunger I6 and which allows liquid topass upwardly through it into the delivery space I8. Mounted betweenupper inlet casting I5 and lower inlet casting 9 are sealing leathers 30which slidably seal and engage the exterior of tube 29.

Lower inlet casting 9 is provided with outwardly opening ports 3| whichare likewise in communication with chamber 24. Lower inlet casting 9 isfurther provided with a downwardly opening valve 32 which is normallyheld closed by a spring 33 and which is adapted to allow liquid to passdownwardly into space B formed above lower plunger 21 but to preventupward passage of liquid from space B.

'I'hreadably mounted on upper portion of lower plunger 21 is a coupling34 which connects tube 29 to plunger 21 and which carries within itvalves 35 and 36, whose function will presently appear. Disposed withincoupling 34 is a space 31 which is adapted to function as a passagewaybetween space C and the interior of tube 29. Valves 35 and 36 arenormally held closed by a spring 38 which is disposed between them.Upper valve 35 is adapted to allow liquid to pass from space B into theinterior of tube 29 but to prevent its return. Lower valve 36 is adaptedto allow liquid to pass upwardly from C into the space within tube 29but to prevent its return.

Lower supporting coupling 5 is provided with radial passageways 39 whichprovide free lluid communication between annular chamber 24 and theinterior of down pipe II, and which allow water to be sucked inwardlythrough ports 23 and 3| as the occasion arises during the operation ofthe pump.

Upper valve 35 presses upwardly against an annular member 40 which isscrew-threadedly jplunger 21 forces water from space C throughinterposed between pipe 29 and coupling 34 and which is provided withvertical passageways 4I which allow the liquid from space B to passdownwardly and thence inwardly and upwardly within the space of tube 29.

The operation of the device of Figure l is as follows: 'I'he upwardmovement o1' lower plunger 21 draws water through check valve 1 intospace C while the simultaneous upward movement of upper plunger I6 drawswater from chamber 24 through ports 23 and valve 25 into space A. At thesame time, upper plunger I6, because of valves 36 and 2| being closed,lifts the water in space D upwardly into the well pipe while lowerplunger 21, because of valve 32 being closed, forces liquid from space Bthrough valve 35 and tube 29 into space D and thus into the well pipe.On the down stroke, check valve 1 is closed and lower valve 36 and tube29 into space D,whi1e upper plunger I6, because of valve 25 beingclosed, forces water from space A through valve 2| into space D and thusinto the well pipe. At the same y time, lower plunger 21, because ofvalve 35 be- Y lng closed, draws water from chamber 24 through ports 3|and valve 32, lling space B.

Thus the device delivers water into the well pipe on both the up anddown strokes and both plungers act to deliver water into the well pipeon both the up and the down stroke.

The working assembly of the device of Figure 1 is removable as a unitupwardly through well pipe II) by merely pulling upwardly on pump rod 20until the upper part of pump plunger I6 contacts coupling member I3,whereupon downwardly, inwardly tapered check valve housing 6 is unseatedfrom internally correspondingly tapered supporting member 5. The entireworking assembly is adapted to slide upwardly through upper couplingmember 4 and thence upwardly into the well pipe.

In the modied form shown in Figure 2, the mode of operation is identicalwith that of the preferred embodiment of Figure 1, but the method ofsupporting the working assembly is different. In this modication, outercasing I extends only down to the intermedite inlet castings. Lowerinlet casting 9 is tapered downwardly and inwardly on its outer surface,and is supported by a correspondingly tapered supporting coupling member42 which is provided with ports 43 communicating with the exterior ofthe pump and adapted to allow ports 23 of upper inlet casting I5 tocommunicate with the water surrounding the assembly. In thisconstruction, it is necessary that the water in the well stand at apoint above ports 3| and 43.

In the modified form of Figure 3, the construction and mode of operationare similar to that of the devices described above except that the outercasing I is eliminated entirely and the working cylinder instead ofbeing slidably and removably mounted is xedly attached to a couplingmember 44 which is threaded to the bottom of the well pipe I0. In orderto remove the working cylinder upwardly, it is necessary to pull thewell pipe.

When using this modification, it is likewise essential that the water inthe well stand above the level of ports 23 in upper inlet casting I5.

Another diierence between the construction of the modifications ofFigures 2 and 3 and that of port the working unit as is the case withthe device of Figure 1.

I wish it to be understood that I intend to include within my inventionsuch modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditionsand uses and as fall within the terms or spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a pump, an upper cylinder, an upper plunger adapted to reciprocatetherein, the space contained in the upper cylinder immediately above theupper plunger constituting a delivery `space, a lower cylinder, a lowerplunger adapted to reciprocate therein, hollow means connecting saidplungers so that they reciprocate together, means for moving theplungers as a solid sucker rod movable within said delivery space, meansintermediate of said cylinders provided with ports adapted to connectthe space below said upper plunger with a source oi' liquid to bepumped, an outlet for liquid from the space below the upper piston,valve means allowing liquid to pass through said ports into said spacebelow said upper plunger but preventing the reverse tlow of liquid, saidintermediate means being also provided with passageways adapted toconnect the space above said lower plunger with a source of liquid to bepumped, valve means associated with said last-named passageways adaptedto allow liquid to pass through said eways into the space above saidlower plunger but to prevent the reverse flow of liquid, and valve meanscarried by said lower plunger and adapted to allow liquid to pass fromthe space above said lower plunger into said hollow connecting means butto prevent the reverse now of liquid, said plungers and valve meansbeing so arranged that when the double plunger unit is moved downwardlythe duid in the space directly below the upper plunger and containedbetween the cylinder and said hollow means, also the iluld in the spacedirectly below the lower plunger are both forced upwardly into thedelivery space above the upper plunger from which fluid under pressureis discharged by the pump, and on the upward movement of the plungerunit the :duid directly above the lower plunger and contained betweensaid cylinder and said hollow means is forced upwardly into saiddelivery space.

2. In a pump, an upper cylinder, an upper plunger adapted to reciprocatetherein, the space contained in the upper cylinder immediately above theupper plunger constituting a delivery space, a lower cylinder, a lowerplunger adapted to reciprocate therein, means for moving the plungers asa solid sucker rod movable within said delivery space, a check valvelocated in said upper plunger to allow liquid topass upwardly from belowsaid upperplunger to a point thereabove but to prevent a reverse ilow ofliquid, a check valve located below said lower plunger and adapted toallow liquid to pass upwardly therethrough into the space below saidlower plunger, intermediate means connecting said upper and lowercylinders, hollow means connecting said upper and lower plungers so thatthey reciprocate together and in free communication with the space abovesaid upper plunger, passageways in said intermediate means adapted toconnect the space above said lower plunger with a source of liquid to bepumped, valve means associated with said passageways for allowing liquidto ilow through said passageways, into said space above said lowerplunger 4but to prevent the reverse flow of liquid, valve means carriedby said lower plunger and adapted to allow liquid to flow from the spaceabove said lower plunger into said hollow connecting means, and separatevalve means carried by said lower plunger and adapted to allow liquid toflow from said space below said lower plunger into said hollowconnecting means but to prevent the reverse flow of liquid, saidplungers and valve means being so arranged that when the double plungerunit is moved downwardly the fluid in the space directly below the upperplunger and contained between the cylinder and said intermediate means,also the fluid in the space directly below the lower plunger are bothforced upwardly into the delivery space above the upper plunger fromwhich fluid under pressure is discharged by the pump, and on the upwardmovement of the plunger unit the fluid directly above the lower plungerand contained between said cylinder and said intermediate means isforced upwardly into said delivery space.

3. In a pump, containing only two plungers in line with one another, anupper and lower cylinder in which said plungers are adapted respectivelyto reciprocate, hollow means connecting said plungers so that theyreciprocate together and in communication with the delivery space, saiddelivery space being immediately above the upper plunger and within theupper cylinder, intermediate means disposed between said upper and lowercylinders, means for moving the plungers as a solid sucker rod movablewithin said delivery space, ports in said intermediate means adapted toplace the space below said upper plunger in communication with a sourceof liquid to be pumped, check valve means allowing liquid to passthrough said ports into said space but preventing the reverse flow ofliquid, valve means carried by said upper plunger adapted to allowliquid to pass therethrough from the space below said upper plunger andinto said delivery space but to prevent the reverse flow oi liquid,separate ports carried by said intermediate means adapted to place thespace above said lower plunger in communication with a source of liquidto be pumped, check valve means associated with said last-named portsand adapted to allow liquidl to flow therethrough into said space abovesaid lower plunger but to prevent the reverse flow of liquid, checkvalve means below said lower plunger adapted to allow liquid to flowupwardly therethrough into the space below said lower plunger, valvemeans carried by said lower adapted to allow liquid to ilow from thespace below said lower plunger into said hollow means but to prevent thereverse flow of liquid, and separate valve means also carried by saidlower plunger adapted to allow liquid to flow from the space below saidlower plunger into said hollow means but to prevent the reverse now ofliquid, said plungers and valve means being so arranged that when thedouble plunger unit is moved downwardly the iluid in the space directlybe low the upper plunger and contained between the cylinder and saidhollow means, also the iluid in the space directly below the lowerplunger are both forced upwardly into the delivery space above the upperplunger from which iluid under pressure is discharged by the pump, andon the upward movement of the plunger unit the iluid directly above thelower plunger and contained between said cylinder and said hollow meansis forced upwardly into said delivery space.

4. In a pump, containing only two plungers in line with one another, anupper and lower cylinder in which said plungers are adapted respectivelyto reciprocate, hollow means connecting said plungers so that theyreciprocate together and in communication with the delivery space, saiddelivery space being immediately above the upper plunger and within theupper cylinder, intermediate means disposed between said upper and lowercylinders, means for moving the plungers as a solid sucker rod movablewithin said delivery space, ports in said intermediate means adapted toplace the space below said upper plunger in communication with a sourceof liquid to be pumped, check valve means allowing liquid to passthrough said ports into said space but preventing the reverse flow ofliquid, valve means carried by said upper plunger adapted to allowliquid to pass therethrough from the space below said upper plunger andinto said delivery space but to prevent the reverse ow of liquid,separate ports carried by said intermediate means adapted to place thespace above said lower plunger in communication with a source of liquidto be pumped, check valve means associated with said last-named portsand adapted to allow liquid to flow therethrough into said space abovesaid lower plunger but to prevent the reverse flow of liquid, checkvalve means below said lower plunger adapted to allow liquid to flowupwardly therethrough into the space below said lower plunger, valvemeans carried by said lower plunger adapted to allow liquid to flow fromthe space above said lower plunger into said hollow means but to preventthe reverse flow of liquid, and separate valve means also carried bysaid lower plunger adapted to allow liquid to flow from the space belowsaid lower plunger into said hollow means but to prevent the reverseilow of liquid, and a common spring between said two last-named Valvemeans tending to normally maintain said valve means closed, saidplungers and valve means being so arranged that when the double plungerunit is moved downwardly the fluid in the space directly below the upperplunger and contained between the cylinder and said hollow means, alsothe fluid in the space directly below the lower plunger are both forcedupwardly into the delivery space above the upper plunger from whichiluid under pressure is discharged by the pump, and on the upwardmovement of the plunger unit the fluid directly above the lower plungerand contained between said cylinder and said hollow means is forcedupwardly into said delivery space.

5. In a pump,'an outer casing, a cylinder assembly disposedconcentrically therewithin and forming an annular chamber therebetween,said cylinder assembly comprising an upper cylinder, an upper plungeradapted to reciprocate therein, the space within said cylinder anddirectly above said plunger constituting a delivery space, a lowercylinder, a lower plunger adapted to reciprocate therein, hollow meansconnecting said plungers so that they reciprocate together, andproviding constant free fluid communication between the space below saidlower plunger and said delivery space, intermediate means connectingsaid cylinders, ports in said intermediate means adapted to connect saidannular chamber with the space below said upper plunger, separate portsin said intermediate means adapted to connect said annular chamber withthe space above said lower plunger, means carried by said lower plungeradapted to alternatively connect said space above said lower plungerwith said hollow means and to connect said space below said lowerplunger with said hollow means, said annular chamber being in freecommunication with liquid below said cylinder assembly, upwardly openingcheck valve means carried by said upper plunger for allowing fluid topass upwardly therethrough into said delivery space, and inwardlyopening check valve means for allowing fluid to pass into said spacebelow said plunger.

6. In a pump, an outer casing, an internally and downwardly inwardlytapered supporting member at the bottom thereof, a cylinder assemblyhaving an externally and downwardly inwardly tapered member mounted atthe bottom thereof and received in said supporting member, said cylinderassembly forming an annular chamber with said outer casing, saidsupporting member having passageways therethrough connecting saidannular chamber with liquid below said cylinder assembly, said cylinderassembly comprising an upper cylinder, an upper plunger therein, thespace Within said cylinder and directly above said plunger constitutinga delivery space, a lower cylinder, a lower plunger therein, hollowmeans rigidly connecting said plungers, means for moving the plungers asa solid sucker rod movable within said delivery space, and providingconstant free fluid communication between the space below said lowerplunger and said delivery space, check valved means allowing liquid toflow from said annular chamber into the space below said upper plunger,check valved means allowing liquid to flow from said annular chamberinto the space above said lower plunger, said lower plunger having checkvalve means allowing liquid to flow from above said lower plunger intosaid hollow means and having separate check valve valve means allowingliquid to ow from the space below said lower plunger into said hollowmeans, upwardly opening check valve means carried by said upper plungerfor allowing fluid to pass upwardly from the space below said upperplunger into said delivery space, and inwardly opening check valve meansfor allowing uid to pass into said space below said lower plunger, saidplungers and valve means being so arranged that when the double plungerunit is moved downwardly the fluid in the space directly below the upperplunger and contained between the cylinder and said 'hollow means, alsothe fluid in the space directly below the lower plunger are both forcedupwardly into the delivery space above the upper plunger from whichfluid under pressure is discharged by the pump, and on the upwardmovement of the plunger unit the fluid directly above the lower plungerand contained between said cylinder and said hollow means is forcedupwardly into said delivery space. Y

7. In a triple-acting pump containing only two plungers in line with oneanother, means including a cylinder associated with the upper plungerfor forming a chamber within which said plunger may reciprocate, meansassociated with the lower plunger for forming a chamber within whichsaid lower plunger may reciprocate, hollow means connecting saidplungers so that they reciprocate together and in free communicationwith the delivery space directly above said upper plunger and containedwithin said cylinder, means for moving the plungers as a solid suckerrod movable within said delivery space, means associated with said upperplunger for causing itto draw liquid to be pumped into the spaceimmediately below it on the upstroke and for causing it to deliverliquid from said space below it to a point immediately above it on thedown stroke, and means associated with said lower plunger for causing itto draw liquid to be pumped into the space immediately above it on thedown stroke, to force liquid from the space immediately below it intosaid hollow means on the down stroke, and to force liquid from the spaceimmediately above it intov said hollow means on the upstroke and to drawliquid to be pumped into the space immediately below it on the upstroke.

WILLIAM H. ZEHNER,

